Is it true that our brain alone is responsible for human cognition( 认知 )? What about our body? Is it possible for thought and behavior to originate from somewhere other than our brain? Psychologists who study Embodied Cognition(EC) ask similar questions. The EC theory suggests our body is also responsible for thinking or problem-solving. More precisely, the mind shapes the body and the body shapes the mind in equal measure.
If you think about it for a moment, it makes total sense. When you smell something good or hear amusing sounds, certain emotions are awakened. Think about how newborns use their senses to understand the world around them. They don’t have emotions so much as needs—they don’t feel sad, they’re just hungry and need food. Even unborn babies can feel their mothers’ heartbeats and this has a calming effect. In the real world , they cry when they’re cold and then get hugged. That way, they start to as-sociate being warm with being loved.
Understandably, theorists have been arguing for years and still disagree on whether the brain is the nerve centre that operates the rest of the body. Older Western philosophers and mainstream language researchers believe this is fact, while EC theorises that the brain and body are working together as an organic supercomputer, processing everything and forming your reactions.
Further studies have backed up the mind-body interaction. In one experiment, test subjects( 实验对象 ) were asked to judge people after being handed a hot or a cold drink. They all made warm evaluations when their fingertips perceived warmth rather than coolness. And it works the other way too; in another study, subjects’ fingertip temperatures were measured after being“included” in or “rejected” from a group task. Those who were included felt physically warmer.
For further proof, we can look at the metaphors( 比喻说法 ) that we use without even thinking. A kind and sympathetic person is frequently referred to as one with a soft heart and someone who is very strong and calm in difficult situations is often described as solid as a rock. And this kind of metaphorical use is common across languages.
Now that you have the knowledge of mind-body interaction, why not use it? If you’re having a bad day,a warm cup of tea will give you a flash of pleasure. If you know you’re physically cold, warm up before making any interpersonal decisions.
46 . According to the author, the significance of the EC theory lies in ________.
A . facilitating our understanding of the origin of psychology
B . revealing the major role of the mind in human cognition
C . offering a clearer picture of the shape of human brain
D . bringing us closer to the truth in human cognition
47 . Where does the new borns’ understanding of their surroundings start from?
A . Their personal looks.
B . Their mental needs.
C . Their inner emotions.
D . Their physical feelings.
48 . The experiments mentioned in Paragraph 4 further prove________.
A . environment impacts how we judge others
B . how body temperature is related to health
C . the mind and the body influence each other
D . how humans interact with their surroundings
49 . What does the author intend to prove by citing the metaphors in Paragraph 5?
A . Human speech is alive with metaphors.
B . Human senses have effects on thinking.
C . Human language is shaped by visual images.
D . Human emotions are often compared to natural materials.
50 . What is the author’s purpose in writing the last paragraph?
A . To share with the reader ways to release their emotions.
B . To guide the reader onto the path to career success.
C . To encourage the reader to put EC into practice.
D . To deepen the reader’s understanding of EC .
D 47 . D 48 . C 49 . B 50 . C
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。介绍了心理学家的一项 EC 理论表明,我们不是只有大脑负责人类的认知,我们的身体也负责思考或者解决问题。更准确的说思想塑造身体,身体同等程度地塑造思想。
46 .推理判断题。根据文章第一段 “The EC theory suggests our body is also responsible for thinking or problem-solving. More precisely, the mind shapes the body and the body shapes the mind in equal measure.(EC 理论表明,我们的身体也负责思考或解决问题。更准确地说,思维塑造身体,身体同等程度地塑造思维。 )” 可知, EC 理论认为我们身体就像大脑一样塑造我们的认知,因此推断 EC 理论的意义在于让我们更接近人类认知的真理。故选 D 项。
47 .推理判断题。根据文章第二段 “They don’t have emotions so much as needs—they don’t feel sad, they’re just hungry and need food. Even unborn babies can feel their mothers’ heartbeats and this has a calming effect. In the real world , they cry when they’re cold and then get hugged. That way, they start to as-sociate being warm with being loved.( 他们没有如同需要那么多的情感 —— 他们不会感到悲伤,他们只是饿,需要食物。即使是未出生的婴儿也能感觉到母亲的心跳,这具有镇静作用。在现实世界中,他们冷了就哭,然后被拥抱。这样,他们开始将温暖与被爱联系起来。 )” 可知,新生儿对周围环境的理解依靠的是身体感觉。故选 D 项。
48 .推理判断题。文章首句 “Further studies have backed up the mind-body interaction.( 进一步的研究支持了思想与身体的相互作用。 )” 接下来列举了两个实验 “In one experiment, test subjects( 实验对象 ) were asked to judge people after being handed a hot or a cold drink. They all made warm evaluations when their fingertips perceived warmth rather than coolness. ( 在一项实验中,测试对象被要求在递给热饮或冷饮后判断人。当他们的指尖感知到温暖而不是凉爽时,他们都做出了温暖的评价。 )” 表明,身体会影响到思想,以及 “And it works the other way too;in another study, subjects’ fingertip temperatures were measured after being “included” in or “rejected” from a group task. Those who were included felt physically warmer.( 相反,也是如此;在另一项研究中,受试者的指尖温度是在被 “ 纳入 ” 或 “ 拒绝 ” 小组任务后测量的。那些被纳入在内的人感到身体温暖。 )” 表明身体会受到思想的影响,因此推断实验进一步证明了身体与思想间的相互作用。故选 C 项。
49 .推理判断题。根据文章第五段中的主题句 “For further proof, we can look at the metaphors( 比喻说法 ) that we use without even thinking.( 为了进一步证明,我们可以看看我们不假思索就使用的比喻说法)。 )” 以及下文的陈述 “A kind and sympathetic person is frequently referred to as one with a soft heart and someone who is very strong and calm in difficult situations is often described as solid as a rock.( 一个善良和富有同情心的人经常被称为心软的人,而在困难的情况下非常坚强和冷静的人通常被描述为坚如磐石。 )” 说明人们使用身体触感比喻人可推断,作者通过陈述比喻手法是为了进一步证明我们人类的感觉对思维有影响。故选 B 项。
50 .推理判断题。根据最后一段 “Now that you have the knowledge of mind-body interaction, why not use it?( 既然您已经掌握了身心互动的知识,为什么不使用它呢? )” 以及下文中列举的两种现实生活中的情况 “If you’re having a bad day, a warm cup of tea will give you a flash of pleasure. If you know you’re physically cold, warm up before making any interpersonal decisions.( 如果你今天过得很糟糕,一杯温暖的茶会给你带来一瞬间的快乐。如果你知道自己身体很冷,在做出任何人际关系决定之前先热身。 )” 可知,理论知识已经知道,且在现实生活中有一定的运用价值,所以作者最后一段是在鼓励读者把 EC 理论运用于现实生活中。故选 C 项。